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By: Eden Bollschweiler
Dec. 5, 2022: Around 150 migrants huddled outside the Denver Rescue Mission, enduring whipping wind and sub-freezing temperatures for hours until dawn. These migrants, often clad in flimsy hoodies and flip-flops, marked the initial influx of recent immigration to Denver from El-Paso.
Since Dec. 9th, 2022, the city of Denver estimated 4282 migrants have arrived in the Mile High City, predominantly hailing from the Southern U.S. border as they flee violence and instability prevalent in many Central and Southern American countries.
While Denver is not typically considered a border city, word has traveled fast among migrants, who typically arrive in Denver after an 8-hour bus ride from El Paso, TX. While the number of migrants pouring into Denver has slowed from peaks of around 200 a day, the government, and its various community organizations, are still strained for resources.
The Denver government has provided support by creating pop-up emergency shelters; however, nonprofits, religious groups, and community volunteers have also instrumentally supported migrants. One Denver non-profit, The Denver Rescue Mission, has been vital in housing, feeding, and caring for migrants with nowhere else to turn. Steven Hinkel, spokesperson for the Denver Rescue Mission, sheds light on what humane care means and how to accomplish it despite uncertainty.
This interview was edited and condensed for clarity.
Q: As I researched the Denver immigration influx, I saw the Denver Rescue Mission frequently mentioned. This led me to wonder, what changes has the Rescue Mission experienced with recent immigration?
Hinkel: Well, the Denver Rescue Mission has certainly helped immigrants before the past, this is really nothing new for us to help. The biggest change that happened was December 5, when we really started seeing numbers of immigrants that we had not ever experienced before.
And we were, I think the best way to probably describe it would be the first point of contact for this large group that started the process of immigrating from Venezuela through El Paso and then to Denver. They saw a place in Denver as a safe haven and a place that really wasn’t far away from when they crossed the border in El Paso.
Q: What are the numbers of migrant arrivals looking like right now for the Denver Rescue Mission?
Hinkel: The numbers have definitely been dropping compared to what it was, like I said in mid early to mid-December. But, from our perspective, there definitely is a big question mark surrounding the what’s next question. From a Denver Rescue Mission perspective, “what’s next?” We’re going to house people and shelter them and help them as best as possible.
Q: And have you seen an increase in volunteers and community members looking to get involved as they hear about this?
Hinkel: We definitely saw an increase in people interested in helping us whether that meant from a donation process or a volunteering process. I would tell you, for some individuals, they were very disappointed, I think would be the right word, that we decided to help the immigrants. And that was kind of hard to hear, to be honest with you.
Because these are human beings and individuals that found themselves in a new place in a new environment and a new culture. And from our perspective, we were just always going to help them no matter whether they’re from Venezuela, or they’re from Colfax Avenue.
Q: Going into the next couple of months, what new goals or priorities does the Denver Rescue Mission have?Hinkel: It’s a very interesting question, in terms of what does February look like? Not even that, what does the end of January look like? It’s very gray. There’s not a whole lot of black and white right now, with this issue. You know, we’re trying to put a 500-piece puzzle together while having 450 pieces. But, from a Denver rescue mission perspective, we’re going to house people and shelter them and help them as best as possible.
